Hákonardrápa — Hfr HákdrIII
Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld Óttarsson
Kate Heslop 2017, ‘ Hallfreðr vandræðaskáld Óttarsson, Hákonardrápa’ in Kari Ellen Gade and Edith Marold (eds), Poetry from Treatises on Poetics. Skaldic Poetry of the Scandinavian Middle Ages 3. Turnhout: Brepols, p. 212. <https://skaldic.org/m.php?p=text&i=1257> (accessed 25 April 2024)
Askþollum stendr Ullar
austr at miklu trausti
rœkilundr inn ríki
randfárs brumaðr hári.
‘The mighty heeding-tree of shield-harm [SWORD > WARRIOR], budded with hair, stands in firm support of firs of Ullr’s <god’s> ship [(lit. ‘Ullr’s ship-firs’) SHIELD > WARRIORS] in the east.’
Ólítit brestr úti
unndýrs sumum runnum
hart á Hamðis skyrtum
hryngráp Egils vápna.
Þaðan verða fǫt fyrða
— fregnk gǫrla þat — Sǫrla
rjóðask bjǫrt í blóði
benfúr méilskúrum.
‘Not a little ringing hail of Egill’s <legendary archer’s> weapons [BOWS > ARROWS] crashes hard against Hamðir’s <legendary hero’s> shirts [MAIL-SHIRTS] of some bushes of the wave-beast [SHIP > SEAFARERS] out at sea. As a result the bright garments of Sǫrli <legendary hero> [MAIL-SHIRTS] must be reddened in the blood of men by wound-fire [SWORD] in missile-showers [BATTLE]; I learn clearly of that.’
Ok geirrotu gǫtvar
gagls við strengjar hagli
hungreyðǫndum Hanga
hléðut járni séðar.
‘And garments of spear-downpour [BATTLE > MAIL-SHIRTS], seamed with iron, did not protect hunger-assuagers of the gosling of Hangi <= Óðinn> [RAVEN > WARRIORS] from the hailstone of the bowstring [ARROW]. ’
Grams rúni lætr glymja
gunnríkr, hinns hvǫt líkar,
Hǫgna hamri slegnar
heiptbráðr of sik váðir.
‘The battle-powerful prince’s confidant [RULER], quick to enmity, the one who likes boldness, makes the clothes of Hǫgni <sea-king> [MAIL-SHIRT], pounded with the hammer, ring around him. ’
Sannyrðum spenr sverða
snarr þiggjandi viggjar
barrhaddaða byrjar
biðkvôn und sik Þriðja.
‘The swift receiver of the horse of the breeze [SHIP > SEAFARER] draws under himself the foliage-haired waiting wife of Þriði <= Óðinn> [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] by means of true words of swords [BATTLE].’
Því hykk fleygjanda frægjan
— ferr Jǫrð und menþverri
ítran — eina at láta
Auðs systur mjǫk trauðan.
‘Because of that I think the renowned flinger [of riches] [GENEROUS MAN] is very reluctant to let Auðr’s <giant’s> sister [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] alone; Jǫrð <goddess> submits to the glorious ring-diminisher [GENEROUS MAN]. ’
Rôð lukusk, at sá síðan
snjallráðr konungs spjalli
átti eingadóttur
Ónars viði gróna.
‘The marriage was concluded, so that shrewdly-advising king’s intimate [RULER] afterward possessed the only daughter of Ónarr <giant> [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)], grown with forest. ’
Breiðleita gat brúði
Báleygs at sér teygja
stefnir stǫðvar Hrafna
stála ríkismôlum.
‘The steerer of the Hrafnar <legendary horses> of the harbour [SHIPS > SEAFARER] managed to allure to himself the broad-faced bride of Báleygr <= Óðinn> [= Jǫrð (jǫrð ‘earth’)] with sovereign speeches of swords [BATTLE]. ’
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